Curran’s Patriots-Jets preview review

By Tom E. Curran

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Curran’s Patriots-Jets preview review

PREVIEW

FOXBORO – The Patriots are trying to make sure they don’t have to play any postseason games on the road except for a certain one in Houston. In order to ensure that, taking care of business against the 4-10 and sleepwalking Jets, is a must because the Raiders are right behind New England in the AFC race for the top seed. As 17-point favorites in a Christmas Eve game that both teams would love to see played at a rapid pace so they can beat Santa’s arrival, the Patriots will want to siphon off the drama ASAP.

REVIEW

This one went as close-to-plan as possible. Take the wind right out of the Jets sails and send them home to wait for Santa in silence. Said Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, “I think that goes to show you how big confidence is in this game. I think there is talent on every team and confidence goes a long way. We have just had a hard time this year. There was not a lot of confidence out there as we started losing.”

WHEN THE PATRIOTS HAVE THE BALL

PREVIEW

The Jets allowed touchdown drives of eight, three, five and one plays last week. And that was to Matt Moore. So there will opportunities against a once-promising defensive roster that’s tapered off in effort and interest. While they scored just 16 in Denver last week, the game plan didn’t call for Tom Brady to stand back and throw it 45 times. It was run-oriented and Dion Lewis emerged as the better option than LeGarrette Blount. Don’t be surprised if the Patriots try to keep that balance this week going in against the Jets. How the team decides to deploy Michael Floyd in his first expected action is a late-season point of interest. The last time these teams played, the Patriots lost Rob Gronkowski for good and it was Chris Hogan, Julian Edelman and Malcolm Mitchell that emerged to make up the bulk of the big offensive plays. As I’ll get to later in the preview, the engagement level of the Jets is a curiosity given defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson saying before last week’s matchup, “F*** this game…” But, this being the Patriots, the interest level may rise.

REVIEW

This was a workmanlike win in which half the game was played in crap conditions. As a result, the Patriots were able to grind out 40 rushing attempts for a modest 114 yards and 2.9 yards per attempt. LeGarrette Blount carried 20 times for 50 yards and two more TDs to run his season total to 17. Tom Brady had an efficient 17-for-27, 214 yard game in which he threw three touchdowns and looked as if his nagging thigh injury continues to be something he’s able to play through. The Patriots got up 27-0 by halftime and the Jets weren’t coming back if the Patriots started playing eight-man defense. The immersion of Michael Floyd is going to be ongoing and slow. He had a handful of plays on which to work and his usage was as a lone receiver on the backside with simple route directives. He is a big dude, though. Malcolm Mitchell didn’t have a big day but I’m impressed weekly with his ability to go down and get the ball. Same with Julian Edelman. That’s good for the offense all the way around since Brady would love to work low to preserve his targets and avoid turnovers.

WHEN THE JETS HAVE THE BALL

PREVIEW

The Jets will trot out Bryce Petty, despite the chest injury he suffered last week against Miami on a big hit. He’s probably in for it. His crutches since taking over for Ryan Fitzpatrick have been Bilal Powell, who’s been almost the entire Jets offense in recent weeks with a few sprinklings of Quincy Enunwa and Robby Anderson at wideout. Brandon Marshall was targeted 11 times by Petty last week. He caught one. The Patriots defense is hitting a crescendo with players understanding the scheme, their roles and how things fit together. This won’t bode well for Petty. I’d look for the Patriots to go extremely hard in this one to send a message that the 2016 season isn’t going to close the way the 2015 season did.

REVIEW

Just roll through some of the numbers: the Jets were 1-for-11 on third down. They were 8-for-24 passing for 136 yards with two sacks and three picks (13.9 rating). Bryce Petty attempted three passes. He didn’t complete any except one to Malcolm Butler. It was just a heinous performance and the Patriots deserve credit for making it so because they are just playing like five fingers in a glove right now and moving so well as a group that there’s no room to exploit whether it be in the running game or passing game.

THE KICKING GAME

PREVIEW

Stephen Gostkowski’s made his last 14 kicks over the past three games. He’s only missed one field goal since Oct. 9. Confidence feels like it’s been restored. Ryan Allen has had a few games of high impact this season and last week in Denver was one of those occasions. Meanwhile, Julian Edelman is lugging back punts again and, while he’s good at it, it’s a white-knuckle ride. Jets kicker Nick Folk is a steady veteran. Lachlan Edwards, the punter, has a net of over 40 yards just once in the past six games, an indication of lackluster coverage. The Jets’ main return guy is Jallin Marshall.

REVIEW

Gostkowski made all seven of his kicks – 29 and 22 yard field goals and 5 PATs. Ryan Allen only punted four times but wound up with a 46.8 gross and 45.0 net which is good business. Patriots coverage was very good in this one.

GAME WITHIN THE GAME

PREVIEW

Getting the drop on the Jets. It’s Christmas Eve for cry-eye. How engaged will the injury-riddled Jets remain on the road at Gillette if the Patriots are able to capitalize on their first couple of drives with points? After a disappointing, barely-showed-up home loss to the Dolphins, the Jets effort level will be under scrutiny.

REVIEW

The Patriots stalled on their first drive but still managed a field goal then followed that up with a touchdown to grab a 10-0 lead. They tacked on 17 more in the second quarter as the Jets went quietly.

JETS GOTTA STOP

PREVIEW

Julian Edelman. Edelman had eight catches for 83 yards the last time these teams met and was targeted 11 times. He’s been targeted 67 times in the past five games and is now handling punt return duties as well.

REVIEW

Edelman was not stopped. He caught five balls for 89 yards (eight targets). He also took two punts back for 12 yards. He did get a chance to shut it down in the second half seeing just two more targets.

PATRIOTS GOTTA STOP

PREVIEW

Bilal Powell. The Jets running back has been the offense the past two games with 16 receptions for for 112 yards (11 last week against Miami) and 45 carries for 229 yards. He’s averaging 5.7 yards per carry this season.

REVIEW

Powell carried 15 times for 60 yards and caught two passes for eight yards. He runs hard and left some tire tracks on Patriots safeties Devin McCourty, Patrick Chung and Duron Harmon but he was bottled up in moments of consequence.

THAT SUMS IT UP PATRIOTS STYLE

PREVIEW

“A huge sense of urgency. I mean it’s kind of like we were in the same position last year – same opponents the last two weeks of the season, obviously same goals. Last year whatever we thought of how good of a position we were in and, ‘blah blah blah.’ The season didn’t end the way we wanted it to. I think the biggest thing we always talk about is past games, last year, the biggest thing is learning from those experiences. Obviously those games have no bearing on this year’s games but just learning of, ‘What did you do that week?’, ‘Did you go the extra step to try to prepare?’, ‘Did you go the extra mile at the toughest part of the season – two games left, Christmas, New Years, holidays – just trying to put in a little extra?’ – Devin McCourty, Patriots safety, on closing the season with a flourish.

REVIEW

The Patriots have lost once since October 2 and that was on November 13. Despite not seeing a fleet of highly-competitive, upper-crust teams, they have dispatched opponents one after the other and improved incrementally as they’ve gone. Additionally, they are healthy as horses. Generally. It’s not like 2015.

THAT SUMS IT UP JETS STYLE

PREVIEW

“It’s not a challenge of getting them motivated. We’re going to show up and play hard. That’s the easy part. We’re just losing bodies left and right. … But they play hard and we’re going to show up on [Saturday] and play hard as well. We’ll just get used to the guys and plug them in. It’s one of them seasons where the ball hasn’t bounced the right way. You’re discouraged, you’re disappointed, you’re pissed off, but you’re not giving up hope and you have to try to turn things around.” – Todd Bowles, Jets coach, on closing out a disappointing 2016.

REVIEW

I would have really hated to see the result if the Jets didn’t play hard because losing by more than three-dozen while giving high effort may be even worse than half-assing it.